Better "first game" settings

[loopinvariant]

- New users don't understand all the options here. I didn't.
- It would be good to place them in a game with 3 people as their first experience through "Join A Game." Freestyle or sequential, depending on their preference.
- The first game I signed up for (given to me by "Join A Game") was a 6 player sequential turn, 3 of which are deadbeats. That's not a good first encounter, luckily I found "Game Finder" and learned how to customize it.

[hecter]

Okay… Could you please suggest something then.

[loopinvariant]

Okay… Could you please suggest something then.

Ok, how about that you read the second line of my post?

[hecter]

Okay… Could you please suggest something then.

Ok, how about that you read the second line of my post?

Okay, how about you read the stickies at the top of this forum. Not to mention the fact that it really isn't much of a suggestion. Why would we put them in a game with three people when they can join any game they want?

[loopinvariant]

Okay… Could you please suggest something then.

Ok, how about that you read the second line of my post?

Okay, how about you read the stickies at the top of this forum. Not to mention the fact that it really isn't much of a suggestion. Why would we put them in a game with three people when they can join any game they want?

It's ok, you're upset because you tried to attack the newbie but got owned.

What you really need to be asking is why you feel the need to come out swinging instead of talking to people. Did something bad happen to you and you need to project it somewhere?

Sorry, but you lost all credibility in your first post. Talk to you in another thread.

[hecter]

Look, you didn't follow the form, you really didn't suggest anything worth discussing, and if you want to make fun of me, take it to flame wars. Get it?

[loopinvariant]

Look, you didn't follow the form, you really didn't suggest anything worth discussing, and if you want to make fun of me, take it to flame wars. Get it?

I think no matter what I say or do, you will find a way to attack me. Its how you started out and how your behavior continues. You are angry and hurt inside, and you probably need a shoulder to cry on.

I'm here for you. Let it all out, loop will make it right.

[hecter]

Look, you didn't follow the form, you really didn't suggest anything worth discussing, and if you want to make fun of me, take it to flame wars. Get it?

I think no matter what I say or do, you will find a way to attack me. Its how you started out and how your behavior continues. You are angry and hurt inside, and you probably need a shoulder to cry on.

I'm here for you. Let it all out, loop will make it right.

Are you jealous AK?

[cosmin]

i admit that newbies dont read the FAQ and dont care enought to look at all the options, thats why we get a lot of 6 player, freestyle, escalading, chained games.
most of then dont even botter to pick out a different map so they stick to the classic.

... but their not anything you can do about it, just you could try to make some kind of a shortcut, when people join the first time to be sent to the FAQ and possible read a few before starting playing

[loopinvariant]

i admit that newbies dont read the FAQ and dont care enought to look at all the options, thats why we get a lot of 6 player, freestyle, escalading, chained games.
most of then dont even botter to pick out a different map so they stick to the classic.

That pretty much sums up what I did . I'm still playing the classic map in all my games, just with different options.

... but their not anything you can do about it, just you could try to make some kind of a shortcut, when people join the first time to be sent to the FAQ and possible read a few before starting playing

I was thinking of a way to find a set of options that are good for new players, and then using those options as a way to find the best games for them to start out with. As a new player, I feel that I probably have a good perspective to offer on this issue.

After I first signed up, the web site took me to the "Join A Game" page (or told me to go there, I forget which). Its a pretty daunting list of games, and I signed up for one of the first games that was shown to me. I've looked and I don't understand the sort order used in presenting the list. It's not by game number, type, or board.

I think I had an expectation that the system was showing those games to me as an introduction-level set of games, much like starting at level 1 in any game or the lowbie zone in WoW, but it looks like a random assortment.

As it turns out, what "Join A Game" shows isn't a very good intro for at least one reason -- the number of players in each game is usually 6. There's nothing wrong with 6 player games, but they take a long time to go through the turns if it is a sequential game. As to whether a freestyle or sequential game would be better, that's probably a question of style. But if you asked the user a few basic questions and then presented them with a list of low-population games, it might make a better first impression (at least, that's my thought ).

Once I figured out that I could join additional games (the 4 game limit wasn't clear to me, or maybe I just missed it along the way), my level of frustration dropped dramatically. I've completed three games since I joined, and I have 4 that are in progress. One of those is that first game, a six player sequential game with 3 people who have missed turns.

[Jafnhár]

Loopinvariant, you should have read the Jante laws befored you decided to post here.

1. Don't think that you are special.
2. Don't think that you are of the same standing as us.
3. Don't think that you are smarter than us.
4. Don't fancy yourself as being better than us.
5. Don't think that you know more than us.
6. Don't think that you are more important than us.
7. Don't think that you are good at anything.
8. Don't laugh at us.
9. Don't think that anyone cares about you.
10. Don't think that you can teach us anything.

People like hecter - that spend 20 hours a day here - hate newbies like you, especially since you dared suggesting new features.

[RobinJ]

i admit that newbies dont read the FAQ and dont care enought to look at all the options, thats why we get a lot of 6 player, freestyle, escalading, chained games.
most of then dont even botter to pick out a different map so they stick to the classic.

... but their not anything you can do about it, just you could try to make some kind of a shortcut, when people join the first time to be sent to the FAQ and possible read a few before starting playing

This is a damn good idea - could solve a lot of problems of newbies not having a clue and then wasting space in General Discussion (or sometimes in here) because they don't know how to play.

Loopinvariant, you should have read the Jante laws befored you decided to post here.

1. Don't think that you are special.
2. Don't think that you are of the same standing as us.
3. Don't think that you are smarter than us.
4. Don't fancy yourself as being better than us.
5. Don't think that you know more than us.
6. Don't think that you are more important than us.
7. Don't think that you are good at anything.
8. Don't laugh at us.
9. Don't think that anyone cares about you.
10. Don't think that you can teach us anything.

People like hecter - that spend 20 hours a day here - hate newbies like you. Not to say that you dared suggesting new features!

And this is just a tad harsh ... ( )

[loopinvariant]

Loopinvariant, you should have read the Jante laws befored you decided to post here.

1. Don't think that you are special.
2. Don't think that you are of the same standing as us.
3. Don't think that you are smarter than us.
4. Don't fancy yourself as being better than us.
5. Don't think that you know more than us.
6. Don't think that you are more important than us.
7. Don't think that you are good at anything.
8. Don't laugh at us.
9. Don't think that anyone cares about you.
10. Don't think that you can teach us anything.

That is so cool, I've never seen it before. I've already forwarded that around the office for people to check out -- Thanks.

[kwanton]

Hmmm your idea isn't bad per se but I think I might have a better one(the wiki article is nice and all but screw the jante laws):

Along the lines of automaticaly taking players to the FAQ section when they join maybe there should be a type of "tutorial" game in which they can play through a typical turn with messages detailing what to do. I always find visual aids help in learning and it would certainly be less boring than reading a guide or FAQ(yea I know it's not long by any means but some people today are kinda dee dee dee ne?)

Well that's just my 2 cents. If anyone wants to hijack the idea feel free.

[AndyDufresne]

We've got a few things in the works to help make sense of everything to a newbie.


--Andy

[AAFitz]

We've got a few things in the works to help make sense of everything to a newbie.


--Andy

even women? and astrophysics? and quantum mechanics? Actually, astrophysics and quantum mechanics arent that hard.

[loopinvariant]

Hmmm your idea isn't bad per se but I think I might have a better one(the wiki article is nice and all but screw the jante laws):

Along the lines of automaticaly taking players to the FAQ section when they join maybe there should be a type of "tutorial" game in which they can play through a typical turn with messages detailing what to do. I always find visual aids help in learning and it would certainly be less boring than reading a guide or FAQ(yea I know it's not long by any means but some people today are kinda dee dee dee ne?)

Well that's just my 2 cents. If anyone wants to hijack the idea feel free.

That's really good too. Anything that helps people out.

[s.xkitten]

We've got a few things in the works to help make sense of everything to a newbie.


--Andy

even women? and astrophysics? and quantum mechanics? Actually, astrophysics and quantum mechanics arent that hard.

i know, i know...we're complicated...